Dublin Core
Title
Sugar Grove United Methodist Church, 1889 - 1939 Golden Jubilee, 50th Anniversary
Subject
[no text]
Description
Click on cover to download 1939 Golden Jubilee Program.
Excerpts from 1939 Program:
GOLDEN JUBILEE
of the
SUGAR GROVE METHODIST CHURCH
1889 – 1939
Sugar Grove Methodism has a heritage that is rich beyond compare. It is a heritage that is filled with tales of brave men and women, of preachers whose home was a saddle; it is a heritage that will compare to any nobility in things accomplished and goals gained.
It was over one hundred years ago that the first Circuit riding Methodist preacher visited Sugar Grove Township. His name was John Clark. There was no village in those days only a few scattered settlers. Yet, for some reason or other, that first preacher chose to make Sugar grove his home, and for many years after our township was the headquarters of Fox River Valley Methodism. At first services were held in homes. Sometimes the preacher was forced to be elsewhere, then one of the lay members of the congregation would preach. But there were always services. These men and women, opening a wilderness for colonization, knew the importance and the reality of their God.
In 1857, the first regular church building was erected just off of the Sugar Grove Road near the edge of Blackberry Township. It was know as the Sugar Grove – Blackberry Good Will Church. There was not regular pastor for this church. The sudden growth of nearby Aurora had changed the center of preaching. However, the pulpit was filled quite regularly by ministers from surrounding towns.
Later, still another church building was erected for public worship in our township. This building was located just one mile south of Jericho Corners and was not torn down until 1929.
Our own church building, whose fiftieth anniversary we are observing this year, was begun in the fall of 1888. We cannot attempt to enumerate here the names of those who backed this church venture in the “Grove”, and who made it possible to dedicate the church in the spring of 1889 absolutely free of debt. However, we cannot pass on without mentioning the Laidies Aid, which society was organized in 1885, and “Uncle Dan” Gordon who gave the land upon which the church stands.
For many years after the dedication of the new church, services were held both in the morning and afternoon. The morning service was the regular Methodist worship service. In the afternoon, the facilities of the church were thrown open to a group of men and women who desired to hold “union services”. It was not many years, however, before this distinction was done away with; the services were united and, as one of the present members of our church has said in recalling the whole fifty years of history, “ever since we have worked together. We’re all trying to be Christians here.”
By the year 1890, the Ladies Aid which had accomplished so much for the infant church, found itself sadly lacking in support. So in 1892 our present organization, The Ladies Church Social Society, was organized. At the present time, this organization has seventy active members, three of whom are charter members. In more recent years another Ladies society has developed which has taken the place of the old Ladies Aid. It is known as The Friendship Bible Class. This society, together with the L.C.S.S. has done many fine things, financially and other wise, for the church. A third ladies organization, The Standard Bible Class, has also been very active in church activities in recent years.
In 1903 the Sugar Grove church was placed on two points with Kaneville. The minister resided at Kaneville and held services in Sugar Grove on Sunday afternoon. The first minister to serve these two churches together was Rev. L.L. Hammitt.
In 1919 the tie between Sugar Grove and Kaneville was broken. For a few years the church enjoyed a resident preacher. For most of the years that have followed, however, our church has been served by ministers who were taking work at the Garrett Theological Seminary.
As we observe this anniversary, the members of our church cannot help but feel encouraged over the future. We have at the present time 108 members, irrespective of those who shall join the church on this occasion. For the last five month period our smallest church attendance was 61, our largest 197, our average 77. Recent improvements include a new bathroom in the parsonage, new hymnals, a musical tower, using our pastor’s equipment, and some of the work redecorating our church basement has already been done. We expect that in the very near future this will be completed. New organizations include a weekly Epworth League, a Sunday School orchestra, a Junior Girls Choir, a children’s story hour during the week and a nursery class during the worship service on Sunday, a daily vacation Bible school, a Cradle Roll Sunday School Class, and a Queen Esther and Women’s Missionary Societies. Additional plans are already underway to provide hard of hearing aids in our sanctuary, and to secure robes for our splendid choir.
Excerpts from 1939 Program:
GOLDEN JUBILEE
of the
SUGAR GROVE METHODIST CHURCH
1889 – 1939
Sugar Grove Methodism has a heritage that is rich beyond compare. It is a heritage that is filled with tales of brave men and women, of preachers whose home was a saddle; it is a heritage that will compare to any nobility in things accomplished and goals gained.
It was over one hundred years ago that the first Circuit riding Methodist preacher visited Sugar Grove Township. His name was John Clark. There was no village in those days only a few scattered settlers. Yet, for some reason or other, that first preacher chose to make Sugar grove his home, and for many years after our township was the headquarters of Fox River Valley Methodism. At first services were held in homes. Sometimes the preacher was forced to be elsewhere, then one of the lay members of the congregation would preach. But there were always services. These men and women, opening a wilderness for colonization, knew the importance and the reality of their God.
In 1857, the first regular church building was erected just off of the Sugar Grove Road near the edge of Blackberry Township. It was know as the Sugar Grove – Blackberry Good Will Church. There was not regular pastor for this church. The sudden growth of nearby Aurora had changed the center of preaching. However, the pulpit was filled quite regularly by ministers from surrounding towns.
Later, still another church building was erected for public worship in our township. This building was located just one mile south of Jericho Corners and was not torn down until 1929.
Our own church building, whose fiftieth anniversary we are observing this year, was begun in the fall of 1888. We cannot attempt to enumerate here the names of those who backed this church venture in the “Grove”, and who made it possible to dedicate the church in the spring of 1889 absolutely free of debt. However, we cannot pass on without mentioning the Laidies Aid, which society was organized in 1885, and “Uncle Dan” Gordon who gave the land upon which the church stands.
For many years after the dedication of the new church, services were held both in the morning and afternoon. The morning service was the regular Methodist worship service. In the afternoon, the facilities of the church were thrown open to a group of men and women who desired to hold “union services”. It was not many years, however, before this distinction was done away with; the services were united and, as one of the present members of our church has said in recalling the whole fifty years of history, “ever since we have worked together. We’re all trying to be Christians here.”
By the year 1890, the Ladies Aid which had accomplished so much for the infant church, found itself sadly lacking in support. So in 1892 our present organization, The Ladies Church Social Society, was organized. At the present time, this organization has seventy active members, three of whom are charter members. In more recent years another Ladies society has developed which has taken the place of the old Ladies Aid. It is known as The Friendship Bible Class. This society, together with the L.C.S.S. has done many fine things, financially and other wise, for the church. A third ladies organization, The Standard Bible Class, has also been very active in church activities in recent years.
In 1903 the Sugar Grove church was placed on two points with Kaneville. The minister resided at Kaneville and held services in Sugar Grove on Sunday afternoon. The first minister to serve these two churches together was Rev. L.L. Hammitt.
In 1919 the tie between Sugar Grove and Kaneville was broken. For a few years the church enjoyed a resident preacher. For most of the years that have followed, however, our church has been served by ministers who were taking work at the Garrett Theological Seminary.
As we observe this anniversary, the members of our church cannot help but feel encouraged over the future. We have at the present time 108 members, irrespective of those who shall join the church on this occasion. For the last five month period our smallest church attendance was 61, our largest 197, our average 77. Recent improvements include a new bathroom in the parsonage, new hymnals, a musical tower, using our pastor’s equipment, and some of the work redecorating our church basement has already been done. We expect that in the very near future this will be completed. New organizations include a weekly Epworth League, a Sunday School orchestra, a Junior Girls Choir, a children’s story hour during the week and a nursery class during the worship service on Sunday, a daily vacation Bible school, a Cradle Roll Sunday School Class, and a Queen Esther and Women’s Missionary Societies. Additional plans are already underway to provide hard of hearing aids in our sanctuary, and to secure robes for our splendid choir.
Identifier
2006-48f
Date
June 23, 1939
Creator
Grant P.
Language
[no text]
Rights
[no text]
Format
[no text]
Relation
[no text]
Source
[no text]
Publisher
[no text]
Contributor
[no text]
Type
[no text]
Coverage
[no text]